When Grafton Township was founded in 1850, the area population was recorded at 440. By 1870, the township population had grown to 1,359. Thomas Stillwell Huntley (1807-1894) was the first elected Supervisor of Grafton Township; that is the only elected office he ever held. He was much loved and respected by the area residents; that his obituary stated that “his kindness and generosity will always be remembered so long as the history of the town remains”. The area was first settled as a farm community. Good land and hard work made for a surplus of farm products and local farmers were able to produce enough milk to supply local creameries and to send milk to other milk plants in Chicago. Grafton contains a large proportion of low, wet land about the central parts, hence is better adapted to stock than grain, and like the neighboring townships of Coral and Algonquin, the leading industry among the farmers is the dairy business. This township is one of the southern tier, being joined on the south by Kane County, on the east by Algonquin, on north by Dorr, and the west by Coral. It is township 43, range 7. 

Quick Facts

• Located in McHenry County Illinois.
• Serving Huntley IL, Algonquin IL, Lakewood IL, Crystal Lake IL, and Lake in the Hills IL
• Population - 53,125 (2010) 
• Area - 36 square miles

The Environmental Defenders released their 2022 Recycling Event Calendar. The next event will be held on May 21, 2022. For more information on what you can and can't recycle at this event, and additional recycling dates please click HERE.

Where: Chesak Elementary School 10910 Reed Rd. Lake in the Hills

When: Saturday May 21, 2022

Time: 9:00 AM to Noon

Illinois has received approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury on its Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) program to provide assistance to Illinois homeowners who have struggled to pay their mortgage due to COVID-19. Starting in April 2022, the state will begin accepting applications from homeowners for grants of up to $30,000 to eliminate or reduce past-due mortgage and property tax payments.
Please click HERE to get additional information and how to apply.

Our next Senior Bingo will be on May 24th. 2022. Senior Bingo is held at the Huntley American Legion 11712 W. Coral Street, in downtown Huntley. Our bingo host, Ultra Care Home Health & Compassionate Care, invited Sharon Mueller from Transitions Care to lead an informative group discussion. Complimentary lunch, provided by our sponsor, will be served to all seniors in attendance. The Bingo program begins at 11:00, and ends at 2:30. Bingo is open to all seniors who wish to attend and walk-ins are welcome. If you have any questions, or if you would like to host an upcoming bingo program, please call 847-669-3328.

The McHenry County Housing Authority is now offering mortgage assistance through their Community Service Block Grant (CSBC) Program. Please contact Sue Rose directly for a pre-application screening by calling 815-338-7752 or email Sue @ srose@mchenrycountyhousing.org Please click HERE to view the informational flyer.
 

ComEd Assistance Programs

Commonwealth Edison has several assistance programs to help with your electric service. Please click HERE to go to ComEd's assitance website. ComEd's offered assitance programs are; Payment Arrangements - helps pay off a past due bill or large balance, Due Date Extension - your due date can be extended up to 21 calander days, Residential Special Hardship - Job loss, Deployment, or a Disability, CHAMP - this program is specifically to aid our Military and Veterans & PIPP - Federal & State funded programs to help manage your electric bills. 

LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program

The LIHEAP Program is administered by the McHenry County Housing Authority. Click HERE to view the informative flyer. You can get more information about the program, and apply online HERE, or call to set an appointment @ 815-338-7752

LIHWAP Water & Sewer Assistance Program

The LIHWAP Assistance Program may be able to assist you with up to $1,500 for past due water & sewer bills. Please click HERE to view the informative flyer. Please call the McHenry County Housing Authority @ 815-338-7752 for more information and how to apply.

Nicor Shield of Caring Program

Nicor Gas is providing emergency assistance and homelessness prevention through Shield of Caring, a new program that will help individuals and families to pay their natural gas utility bills and meet other basic needs now and well into the future. Please click HERE to go to the Shield of Caring website to apply. 

Are you in need of a cell phone? SafeLink Wireless is providing free cell phones to people who qualify. These smart phones come with unlimited talk, text, data, and include a 10GB hotspot. Please click HERE to go to their website to get more information and to apply. If you need assistance please call 847-669-3328.

General Assistance/Emergency Assistance -  Grafton Township Residents Only  

Grafton Township offers General and Emergency Assistance to Grafton Township residents. If you need assistance, please review this list of required documents, HERE, and complete the  G.A./E.A. Application (the application is fillable online, print it out or download it and attach it to your email. 

The objective of EA is to assist in emergency situations, such as a disconnection notice on a utility bill, a letter of pending eviction, or an eviction notice.

If the amount needed to alleviate the emergency exceeds the grant amount, the township may not pay until the client comes up with the difference. The cooperation of several agencies may be needed to alleviate the problem.

If you are unsure if you reside in Grafton Township, please call our office and we will help 847-669-3328.

For additional Assistance Resources, please click HERE.

McHenry County Housing Authority list of Resources click HERE.

Applications will be accepted by appointment only. Please call 847-669-3328.

Huntley Salvation Army -  Huntley Residents Only

Grafton Township is the Huntley branch for the Salvation Army. If you are a resident of Huntley, and you need help, please print out the Salvation Army Application, and call Grafton Township for an appointment to return your completed application. For more information go to the Supervisor's section on this website. All other McHenry County residents need to apply at the Crystal Lake Salvation Army. Please call them at 815-455-2769 to check for rules and eligibility.

Applications will be accepted by appointment only. Please call 847-669-3328.

SNAP Food Program, TANF, Dental, and Medical Assistance

Illinois Department of Human Services

512 Clay Street
Woodstock, Illinois 60098
815-338-0234

To apply online, click HERE

Dental Assistance

Do you need dental assistance? Help is here! If you qualify, you may receive up to $2,000 in financial assistance. Please click HERE for the informative flyer, or contact Kayla Prendergast @ kprendergast@mchenrycountyhousing.org or call 815-308-6049

Meals on Wheels

Are you in need of home delivered meals? Catholic Charities of McHenry County is now delivering meals to seniors age 60 and over. Formerly known as Meals on Wheels, this program helps home bound seniors get a daily hot nutritious meal. If you live in McHenry County and would like to sign up for this program, please call 1-800-339-3200. Click HERE to view the flyer for McHenry County residents. For Kane County residents please call the Kane Senior Council @ 1-630-338-0999. Click HERE to view the Kane County Flyer.

If you are interested in volunteering to deliver meals, please contact one of the agencies above.

2-1-1 (United Way)

2-1-1 is the United Way, and an extensive resource database for anyone needing assistance. 2-1-1 provides a free and easy way for everyone to access help with almost any challenge. When you dial 2-1-1, you will be connected with a call center that will direct you to the appropriate social service agency or nonprofit organization. Trained specialists will quickly assess your needs and offer knowledgeable information and referrals. Totally confidential. Please call 2-1-1 or go to www.findhelp211.org for more assistance information.

Do you know a Veteran who needs food, housing, employment, or transition support? Veterans Path to Hope provides Veterans in need and their families the services necessary to experience hope and achieve success. Services at the Crystal Lake site are confidential and provided free of charge. There are eligibility requirements for some services. We welcome Veterans and their families, as well as active military and reserves. For more information please call Veterans Path to Hope @ 815-321-4673(HOPE), or click HERE to go to their website. Veterans Path to Hope is located in at 805 McHenry Ave Suite D, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

The McHenry Health Department has opened a Covid-19 call center to assist you with the most current information regarding the Corona Virus vaccine.

McHenry County residents please call 815-334-4045, or click HERE to go to the McHenry County Covid-19 website.

Kane County residents please click HERE to go to their Covid website, or call 855-4KANEVAX (855-452-6382).

The M.C.H.A. has a variety of services available to McHenry County residents. Some of the programs offered are: Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, Public Housing in scattered 3 bedroom homes throughout McHenry County, Senior Housing for low income seniors and people with disabilities in 2 rental developments, Administers Homeless Prevention Program, Emergency Shelter Program, Administers a Rehab program that assists low income home owners repair their homes, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program(LIHEAP) that assists low income households with the cost of heating and cooling their homes, and Administers the Weatherization Program that assists low income households to make repairs to their homes that will reduce the cost of heating and cooling their homes. 

To learn more about the programs that are available and how to qualify, click HERE to go to the M.C.H.A. website.

Click HERE to view The McHenry County Housing Authority's Resource Guide - This comprehensive list of resources will help you find various types of assistance throughout the county such as: Food Pantries, Veterans Assistance Programs, Medical Care, Dental Care, Diaper Banks, Pet related Services, Affordable and Subsidized Housing, Local Shelters, and so much more. For more information about these programs, and to see if you qualify, please visit or call the McHenry County Housing Authority 1108 N. Seminary Ave. Woodstock, IL.  815-338-7752.

The McHenry County Community Developement Division is offering up to $20,000 in grant funds to help create lead safe homes in McHenry County. Homes built before 1978 are at risk of lead based paint hazards, which can have severe side effects on residents, especially children. Please click HERE for English and HERE for Spanish, to view the informational flyer. To apply directly please click HERE to go to the McHenry County website. For additional information please contact Jena Hencin @ 815-334-4552 or email Jena @ jmhencin@mchenrycountyil.gov for more information.

The newly expanded McRide service is now available to all McHenry County & Huntley residents. The updated service is also now offering county wide travel. Travelers can use the service to travel anywhere in McHenry County, with connections to travel outside of the county as well.

To register and schedule your ride call 800-451-4599 

Call Center Hours

Monday - Friday, 5:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., or 711 for the relay service

Saturday & Sunday - 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM (Same Day Trip Reservations Only)

Holidays - 8:00 - 5:00